I have a service that sometimes starts applications. The problem is: if the *previous app* (any app) was recently exited via the home key, then the following message appears in the log: ActivityManager: Activity start request from 10024 stopped And there's then around a 5 second delay before the target app (any) is launched. If the previous app was exited with the back key, there's no problem. If the previous app exited more than a few second ago, no problem. The same also occurs with a broadcast receiver (which also requires the NEW_TASK intent flag to launch an activity). I don't know if the delay was there in 1.5, but I'm assuming not since I can't find the error message in the 1.5 source code. Launch code is below. A 5 second delay is really ruinous for my application, a hint, solution or workaround would be great if anyone has ideas. TIA, Lee Intent intent = new Intent( Intent.ACTION_MAIN ); intent.addCategory( Intent.CATEGORY_LAUNCHER ); intent.setComponent( new ComponentName( pkg, cls ) ); intent.addFlags( Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK ); intent.addFlags( Intent.FLAG_FROM_BACKGROUND); //I've tried every conceivable combination of other // Intent flags here startActivity( intent );